No matter what field or issue areas your philanthropists care about, scientific research and development will almost certainly help them achieve their goals. Given recent U.S. federal cuts to science and medical research, there is more opportunity than ever before to support scientific research and development. 

Read Part 1 of this 4 part series

The vast majority of my science philanthropy advising has involved first helping wealthy donors or foundations clarify their motivations for giving, and then helping them feel confident about their funding decisions.  Often advising is about asking the right questions and knowing where to find the answers. I have seen many instances where science lies at the root of a funder’s aspirations. 

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Understanding the role your client wants to play in sourcing projects will help determine what type of partners for your client to engage. Finding advisors and mentors for your client, and partners to fund with them can expedite giving, increase impact, and give the donor more confidence during their science philanthropy journey.

Read Part 3 of this 4 part series

Amidst a rapidly changing science funding landscape in the U.S., there is an opportunity for individual funders to consider what kind of role they want to play to influence future scientific discovery for our health and our planet.

Is your client a long-term visionary? A strategic risk-taker? A catalytic innovator? 

Read Part 4 of this 4 part series

The first comprehensive Science Philanthropy Giving Guide written for philanthropists, their advisors and staff, that shares the knowledge and framework necessary to make transformative contributions to advance science and innovation for the public good, and to solve real-world problems.

Learn more about Science Philanthropy

Science Philanthropy 101 is a quick overview of the concepts found in the Science Philanthropy Giving Guide. Science plays a crucial role in solving our world’s problems, and offers philanthropists innovative solutions to complex societal challenges. Whether your passion is science, medical research, or climate change, science philanthropy offers a pathway to create meaningful change by supporting catalytic research and innovation.

Learn more with Science Philanthropy 101

Over the past few years, more and more funders with free-standing, endowed, or well-resourced private philanthropies have reached out to us asking us for help connecting them to potential co-funders. … At first, they describe it as “co-funder acquisition” or “resource mobilization” or “seeking philanthropic partners,” ... At some point, we realized we were witnessing a new trend: funders fundraising.

Read about this new trend

I’ve spent some time pondering what I’ve learned climbing my own mountain of learning during my more than three decades of working with philanthropists, the scientists they support, and those who span these worlds — the science philanthropy advisors, like myself.

Read Anticipate the Cliff.

If a large-enough asteroid struck Earth, it could really put a damper on our day. Valerie Conn talks Watch this TED TALKus through what we should be worried about -- and what scientists around the world are doing now to help us avoid a major asteroid strike. Should we be doing more?

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How is philanthropy accelerating breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder? Is this moment in brain health research analogous to where cancer was a few decades ago? … This panel from the Smithsonian’s 2019 POWER OF GIVING program, moderated by Valerie Conn discusses the intersection of philanthropy, government, investors, and pharma in neuroscience research.

Watch Health & Medicine: Funding New Frontiers in Neuroscience

A question I often get from research institutions seeking funding for scientific research is “what do philanthropists want?”. In my role as advisor to philanthropists who are interested in supporting science, I have a front row view to this question.

Watch this!